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Aboriginal Children & Child Protection

What is changing, and what it means for GEGAC and Aboriginal families in community.

We acknowledge the significant intergenerational trauma caused by colonisation, dispossession, child removal and other discriminatory government policies of the past.

This page includes discussion of child protection and the removal of Aboriginal children from parental custody.

Mob are advised that this topic can cause strong emotional responses, and encourage all community to seek the support of loved ones or professional services if you feel you need support.

GEGAC has received notice from the Dept. of Families, Fairness and Housing that our organisation has been granted pre-authorisation under section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act.

Here’s some background information on what that means, for GEGAC and for Aboriginal children and families in our community.

BACKGROUND

For many years, Aboriginal communities and organisations supporting Aboriginal children and families have been advocating that decisions about Aboriginal kids should made by their own communities.

The Victorian government listened, and has been working with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) across the state to make this happen.

The idea is that Aboriginal communities know their kids best, and can look out for them better than anyone.

So, they’ve made changes to the law (under Section 18 of the Children Youth and Families Act) to make sure that Aboriginal kids are supported and protected by their own communities, through a program they call Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care (ACAC.)

Before, if there were worries about a child’s safety in Victoria, Child Protection from the Dept. of Families, Fairness and Housing would step in and, if needed, remove the child from their parents.

But this system often didn’t work well for Aboriginal communities because it didn’t always understand local culture or family issues, or how to support the family to ensure children return home or at least stay with family and community.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW?

Now, some ACCOs will be more involved in managing situations that used to be handled by Child Protection.

The Dept. of Families, Fairness and Housing recognizes that ACCOs are better equipped to help Aboriginal kids and families because they can provide more culturally sensitive care, and keep kids connected to their community and extended family whenever possible.

GEGAC is now one of 6 ACCOs in Victoria to have received pre-authorisation or full authorisation under section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act to be responsible for Aboriginal children or young people who have been placed on a Children’s Court Order.

Pre-authorisation means that GEGAC will work alongside Child Protection in responding to protective concerns involving Aboriginal children in community. However the Secretary of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing will still hold legal responsibility for child, as has been the case up until now.

The other ACCOs in Victoria to have pre-authorisation under section 18 at this time are Njernda Aboriginal Cooperative (Echuca) and Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative (Shepparton).

Full authorisation means the Aboriginal child under protective order is now the legal responsibility of the CEO of the ACCO.

Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC), the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA), and Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BADAC) have been granted full-authorisation under section 18.

Here’s answers to some frequently asked questions about ACAC at the Dept. of Families, Fairness and Housing’s website.

WHAT NEXT?

This pre-authorisation includes a concomitant increase in funding support from the Dept. of Families, Fairness and Housing, to allow GEGAC to hire, train and develop more staff for child protection and family services roles.

Expanding staff capacity, through both hiring and training, will be a focus in the coming months, as will be updating our policies and procedures to reflect the new responsibilities of our Children, Youth and Families Division.

We promise to keep staff and the community informed throughout this process, and appreciate your interest and support.

If you have any questions about pre-authorisation under section 18, and child and family services at GEGAC, please reach out to us at cyf@gegac.org.au or use the contact form below.

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